Welcome to another post here in the community.
Now let’s talk about Dungeon Meshi, or Delicious in Dungeon, as it became known in the West. I confess I started watching it rather casually, just because I found the premise intriguing. A group of adventurers who decide to cook and eat monsters while exploring a dungeon? Seriously, it immediately struck me as a mix between a tabletop RPG and MasterChef, and it was precisely that crazy idea that hooked me right away.
The plot begins simply: a group of adventurers led by Laios loses a party member his sister, Falin to a dragon.
Without resources and out of time, they decide to go back into the dungeon immediately to save her... but they’re out of food. That’s when the unusual plan kicks in: survive by eating the monsters they face. And so, with each episode, we’re introduced to a new creature and a bizarre new recipe, ranging from grilled slime to mandrake omelet.
It might sound silly, but it’s precisely that lighthearted tone that makes the series so enjoyable.
The anime does a great job balancing humor, fantasy, and character development.
Each group member has a well-defined personality: Marcille, the grumpy elf mage who’s reluctant to eat monsters; Chilchuck, the halfling trap specialist; and the amazing Senshi, the dwarf cook with the most enthusiastic love for gastronomy I’ve ever seen in an anime. He turns absolutely everything into food with a level of seriousness that borders on the comedic.
The animation was handled by Studio Trigger (responsible for anime like Kill la Kill and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners) and, as expected, it’s gorgeous. The visuals are colorful, expressive, and dynamic, with fluid combat scenes and creative monster designs. The dishes are animated with such detail that there were several moments where I actually felt like eating something that, in real life, would make me run away.
Another thing I really liked was the world-building. The dungeon isn’t just a random place full of monsters; it has its own rules, ecosystems, and unique biologies, like a miniature living world. It reminded me a lot of Made in Abyss, but with a much lighter tone. In fact, the manga's authors, Ryoko Kui, were highly praised for this creative and logical approach to designing both creatures and the environment.
Now, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
The beginning might feel a bit slow if you’re expecting an epic story. The first episodes focus heavily on the culinary adventures and less on the main plot.
But I insist;
it’s worth sticking with it, because little by little we learn more about Falin, the dungeon’s secrets, and the characters’ personal traumas and backstories. Around the halfway point of the season, the tone shifts significantly, including more serious and emotional moments. It’s also worth mentioning the soundtrack, which is subtle yet effective, and the the dubbing seems quite confident in funny moments, nothing as forced as a laugh “HAHAHAHAHAH” or something like that.
Senshi talking about “chimera tentacle stew” in a chef’s voice is simply hilarious.
Really??
In the end, Dungeon Meshi was, for me, one of the biggest surprises of 2024. It doesn’t have the deep emotional weight of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, (I honestly don’t remember if I posted a review of that, I’ll check later), but it delivers something I truly value: originality with charm. It’s the kind of anime that reminded me why I love this medium because only in anime can the idea of cooking monsters in a dungeon become a rich, funny, and yes, touching narrative. If you enjoy fantasy with a touch of humor, want something light, creative, and with captivating characters, Dungeon Meshi is a must-watch.
